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The Kerala government on Monday, May 19, suspended Peroorkada police station Sub Inspector (SI) Prasad S G over the alleged harassment of a Dalit woman in a theft case which was later proved to be false. The action came nearly a month after the incident took place.
Thiruvananthapuram city police commissioner issued the suspension order based on a preliminary inquiry report submitted by the city special branch.
The victim, Bindu R, a 39-year-old domestic worker, was taken into custody for questioning after her employer alleged that 2.5 sovereigns of gold had gone missing from their home. Bindu was taken to the Peroorkada police station where, she said, she was subjected to severe mental harassment. The police reportedly refused to hear her version of events, and an FIR was filed despite her consistent denials.
Speaking to TNM, Bindu recounted spending an entire night at the station without food. “They questioned me till 3 am. They were never ready to listen to my version,” she said. She also alleged that her family was not permitted to provide her with food. Bindu said that both male and female officers, in addition to the suspended SI, were involved in the questioning.
The next day, the FIR was quietly withdrawn after the house owners found the missing gold in their home. When contacted by TNM at the time, police at the Peroorkada station refused to acknowledge any misconduct or harassment.
Unsatisfied with the police response, Bindu filed formal complaints in the first week of May with the Kerala Chief Minister, the State Police Complaints Authority, and the Kerala State SC/ST Commission. In her complaints, she named SI Prasad and four other officers responsible for the harassment.
Following her complaint, the Kerala SC/ST Commission directed the Thiruvananthapuram Cantonment Assistant Commissioner on May 6 to submit an inquiry report within 20 days.
After news of the suspension broke, Bindu addressed the media, demanding accountability from all officers involved, not just the SI.